MARGAO: Taking cognizance of the upheaval caused by party MLA Pratapsing Rane’s statement in the assembly about Goans washing toilets, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Girish Chodankar said Rane would clarify his position “as soon as possible”. Talking to media persons, he said the party and he (Girish) personally had responded to the statement immediately even before there was such an outcry in the media. He admitted that Goans had to go overseas for jobs because the Congress government failed to provide them employment opportunities at home. “Goans working abroad were forced to do so; they have made many sacrifices including their family life. We cannot forget that. It is Goans working abroad who have made Goa what it is as it was their foreign remittances that kept us scaling great heights,” he said. “We have taken strong cognizance of the statement in view of the pain it has caused to fellow Goans and party leaders have been talking to Rane about this,” he said pointing out that Rane was out of station and arrived only on Friday. He said that party leaders like Leader of Opposition, All India Congress Committee secretary have been in touch with Rane and assured that Pratapsing Rane would clarify his position shortly. He rejected the contention that the Congress apology was an afterthought.
